Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-09-03
THR PARK PROJRCT.
The Matter still Boomiog-Some Reason,
Why the City Should Buy.

The Matter Stni Boomiog-Some Reasons
why the City Should Buy.
Public interest in the project Of making
n public park of some sort out of the old
Fair Grounds continues, and it is very
likely the matter will come up at the next
session of Council, which will probably be
a called meeting for next Tuesday evening.
People who have thought over the project
are convinced the city ought y own the
tract, in order to secure its improvement
and allow the greatest possible benefit 70
accrue to the public. This sentiment wa
very well voiced by a prominent citizen,
and an old soldier, too, yesterday. He
said:
1T may be desirable to have the ground
purchased by the G. A. R. or the Society
of the Army of West Virginia; in fact, |
would like TO see it in the hands of the
soldiers, but while it would be a nice
thing for them at Reunion time, the peo-
pie would gain no practical benefit from it.
1t could not be improved by the G. A. R.
or the Society, for the reason that neither
organization could stand the strain upon
their resources, and without improvement
il would have no value as a pleasure
ground. If the only expenditure would
he the first cost | would be heartily in IA
vor of Its purchase by subscription but
I can't see any practicable solution of the
difficulties / have named. Let us go
into details for a moment The first cost
wouldIbe. say $50, OOO. Then the grounds
must be enclosed; the portion fronting
along Back river has lately shown a very
decided tendency to cave in, and must be
protected by whoever buys the ground; II
it is to be q public grounds it must be
lighted with street lamps, water must be
introduced for fountains, ornamental trees
and shrubs anu flowers planted, and
so on dd tiRitum. These items the
city can stand, and the citizens
would agree to it, because IN
a few years they would have q park OF
which the whole community could De
proud, and which would be free to our
people forever. But let either OF the veteran
organizations or an association of private III
dividuals buy the property, and the citizens
have no inherent right in the matter. AT
the most they could only visit the grounds
by permlssion-and that's hardly the
thing we want. Let us call it Memorial
Park, or Camp Garlic Park, or anything
else you chose; let US set aside as much OF
its area as may be necessary for reunion
purposes; but don't let this golden oppor-
tunity to acquire an eligibly situated park
escape the city. l see one or two Council
men of small calibre are opposed to the
purchase. That is to be expected. But
they belong to the class who always
set their faces against anything
in the way of PROCESS. The great majority
of Council, l am convinced, see the Wis
dom of the city owning the grounds. We
are not throwing our money away. We
are not only getting value received, but
the property is bound to increase right
along. Let's have the Park"
This is a sample of how people who
have considered the matter talk. OF
course, there are many who are enthu-
siastically in favor of the veterans buying
the ground, but when they look at the an
nuai expense which would be entailed in
improving the property, they begin to be
dubious.